Local Planespotter Stories & Location Tips

August 20, 2025 

Planespotting is the act of observing and photographing airplanes, generally whilst hanging out at an airport. Thousands of aviation fanatics (or “Av Geeks” as many self-identify) across the world partake in this hobby. They have created robust online communities dedicated to planespotting – and we see it as an art.

Photographing aircraft requires precision. They move fast, and there is artistry in balancing the background with the plane, getting the right lighting and framing it all just perfectly. There is also the element of patience, as spotters will sometimes wait for hours to see if they can catch a rare plane livery (which is the plane’s paint job).

These photos are often quite majestic. They offer a glimpse into the world’s interconnectedness and spark wonder of flight and travel.  

Every month, in the #SpottedAtSJC social media series, the SJC team highlights some of the beautiful photos local planespotters are catching at SJC. In honor of National Aviation Week, we wanted to celebrate these folks further and learn a little more about them. Here are a few of our most featured spotters.  

Also, check out our National Aviation Week SJC Sticker Search.

Jay, @yayareaspots

I started planespotting back in May of 2023.

I’d always see planes flying overhead, and each time I did, my interest grew. One day, I decided to pick up my camera and start taking photos of them. From there, my interest grew even more, and now it’s something I look forward to doing every day.

My SJC Picks

• Favorite place to spot: Lot 5 (Terminal B Hourly Parking Lot). It offers awesome views of both takeoffs and landings, plus great close-ups of the planes.
• Favorite photo taken: Alaska Airlines 737-800 taking off. This is my favorite photo that I’ve taken at SJC because it was taken at sunset, making the plane look golden and beautiful.

• Favorite place to fly from SJC: Honolulu, Hawaii. I love how tropical it is, and the views never disappoint.
• Go-to restaurant at SJC: Smashburger. Their burgers are always super fresh, high quality, and taste amazing every time.

Mark, @sanjose_aviation

I started planespotting in the summer of 2019. My friend introduced me to planespotting and he took marvelous shots and I wanted to do that too. I used whatever money I had left on me (and a contribution from my parents) to buy a cheap yet capable DSLR for the job.

Planespotting came natural to me as I love aviation and I love taking pictures. This hobby also allows me to show my work to the internet and meet fellow hobbyists which helps me to improve as a photographer.

My SJC Picks

• Favorite place to spot: By Coleman Ave right beside the SJC sign. It provides some nice up-close arrival shots with great lighting, especially during the evening.
• Favorite photo taken: Alaska Airlines Honoring Those Who Serve livery. Here’s one of my favorite photos. It’s a combination of nice lighting, framing, background composition and my favorite livery.

• Favorite place to fly from SJC: Seattle, Washington. It’s a beautiful city and Washington has some neat aviation history.
• Go-to restaurant at SJC: San José Mac + Cheese Kitchen

Jose, @jose_the_planespotter

I started planespotting on February 8, 2024, when my friend, Mark (aka @sanjose_aviation), invited me to go planespotting which I had never done before. We’re both SJSU students studying in aviation, and I’m studying to become an airline pilot.  

We would meet up by the fence close to runway 30L and start taking pics of all the planes landing and taking off. He used his professional photography camera while I used an iPhone for taking pictures. A couple of months later I had bought myself the same camera as to what Mark has and that is what I have been using until now.

I like planespotting because it’s really cool to see planes taking off and landing, especially those that are rarely seen here at SJC like B767, B777, B727, or anything particular that catches my eyes, especially to other plane spotters as well.

My SJC Picks

• Favorite place to spot: By the fence right by Airport Blvd. and Coleman Ave. You definitely can get close-ups from there. Another one of my favorites is on the top floor of Lot 2 (Terminal A Garage).
• Favorite photo taken: Private aircraft. I would definitely say this is my favorite photo that I captured at SJC. I had always wanted to catch it but it’s difficult since this plane is always departing by the time I’m unavailable but with luck, I was finally able to catch it!

• Favorite place to fly from SJC: San Diego, California
• Go-to restaurant at SJC: Chick-fil-A